Wheel pulling and transporting device

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub. The device includes a frame, which frame has a threaded hole therethrough, and retainer means for retaining the device in engagement with the wheel hub. The device also includes a threaded shaft in rotatable engagement with the threaded hole, and with a retainer means for retaining the device in engagement with the wheel hub. The device still further includes substantially torqueless fastening means, affixed to the frame, for releasably attaching the frame to the wheel. The shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the substantially torqueless fastening means. The substantially torqueless fastening means may be any fastening arrangement in which there is substantially no net torque on the wheel about the center of the wheel hub when the force is exerted upon the wheel by rotation of the shaft.

We claim:  
     
       1. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub, the device comprising: 
       a frame having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a retainer removably engageable with the wheel hub;  
       a threaded shaft rotatably engaged with the threaded hole, a first end of the threaded shaft being rotatably engaged with the retainer;  
       a plurality of flexible wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a first end affixed to the frame and a second end, the second ends of the wheel fasteners being releasably attachable to the wheel at points of generally equal radial distance from the axis of rotation of the wheel, the points being generally equidistant from each other along a generally circular path defined by the radial distance;  
       whereby the threaded shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       2. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub, the device comprising: 
       a frame having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a retainer removably engageable with a portion of the periphery of the wheel hub;  
       a threaded shaft rotatably engaged with the threaded holes a first end of the threaded shaft being rotatably engaged with the retainer;  
       a plurality of wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a first end affixed to the frame and a second end releasably attachable with the wheel, wherein each of the second ends of the plurality of wheel fasteners is generally T-shaped;  
       whereby the threaded shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       3. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub the device comprising: 
       a frame having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a retainer removably engageable with a portion of the periphery of the wheel hub;  
       a threaded shaft rotatably engaged with the threaded hole, a first end of the threaded shaft being rotatably engaged with the retainer;  
       a plurality of wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a first end affixed to the frame and a second end releasably attachable with the wheel, wherein each of the second ends of the plurality of wheel fasteners is generally T-shaped and wherein the second ends of the plurality of wheel fasteners are releasably attachable to the wheel at points of generally equal radial distance from the axis of rotation of the wheel, the points being generally equidistant from each other along a generally circular path defined by the radial distance;  
       whereby the threaded shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       4. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub, the device comprising: 
       a frame having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a retainer removably engageable with the wheel hub;  
       a threaded shaft rotatably enraged with the threaded hole, a first end of the threaded shaft being rotatably engaged with the retainer;  
       a plurality of flexible wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a chain having a first generally hook-shaped end affixed to the frame and a second generally T-shaped end, the second ends of the wheel fasteners being releasably attachable to the wheel at points of generally equal radial distance from the axis of rotation of the wheel, the points being generally equidistant from each other along a generally circular path defined by the radial distance;  
       whereby the threaded shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       5. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub, said device comprising: 
       a frame;  
       a member projecting device having a projectable member, the member projecting device being affixed to the frame;  
       a hub socket removably engageable with a portion of the periphery of the wheel hub, the hub socket being disposed on the projectable member;  
       a plurality of wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a first end affixed to the frame and a second end releasably attachable with the wheel, wherein each of the second ends is generally T-shaped;  
       whereby the member projecting device may be operated so that the hub socket is projected against a portion of the periphery of the wheel hub by the projectable member, thus urging the frame away from the wheel hub and exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       6. A device for pulling a wheel from a wheel hub, the device comprising: 
       a frame having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a retainer removably engageable with the wheel hub;  
       a threaded shaft rotatably engaged with the threaded hole, a first end of the threaded shaft being rotatably engaged with the retainer;  
       a plurality of flexible wheel fasteners, each of the wheel fasteners comprising a first end releasably attachable with the frame and a generally T-shaped second end releasably attachable with the wheel;  
       whereby the threaded shaft may be rotated to urge the frame away from the wheel hub, thus exerting a force upon the wheel through the wheel fasteners.  
     
     
       7. A device according to claim  6  wherein the retainer comprises a socket releasably engageable with a portion of the periphery of the wheel hub.